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Exercise does a body good — especially when that body is pregnant. But what happens when that pregnant body is just too tired to get off the sofa, never mind get on a treadmill? The fact is, pregnancy fatigue is a fact of life for most expectant moms — especially during the first trimester and the last month of pregnancy. And while that physiological reality is a perfectly good reason to take it easier (and to temporarily step off that treadmill) until you're feeling more energetic, it's not such a good reason to write yourself a gym excuse for the rest of your pregnancy. Hard as it may be to believe from your comfy vantage point on the sofa, the right kind of exercise can actually be more energizing than lying down. Besides being good for you and your baby, it can even give you back some of that get-up-and-go that you're pretty sure has gotten up and left for good.

Remember, too, that exercise during pregnancy doesn't have to be exhausting to be effective — and in fact, the right kind of pregnancy exercise won't leave you dragging (if it does, it's not the right kind of pregnancy exercise). A ten-minute walk three times a day counts just as much as a 30-minute cardio workout — a lot more so if you're more likely to actually do it (lying on the couch thinking about doing that 30-minute cardio workout doesn't count at all). A pregnancy yoga or Pilates class isn't strenuous — and it can be even more relaxing than a stint on the sofa. Gentle laps in the pool can be invigorating, not enervating (plus, where else do you get to be weightless these days?).

Another tip: When possible, do your exercise outdoors — the fresh air may give you just enough lift to get you going…and keep you going. You'll get an energy jolt, too, by having a light snack before you strap on your sneaks (and that jolt will last longer if you choose the right snack — think protein and complex carbs, as you'd find in string cheese and a pear, not sugar, as you'd find in a chocolate bar). And when you don't have time to actually take that walk, just build it into your day instead. Walk to the next bus stop instead of catching the one closest to your office, park your car in the farthest spot from the store, or walk to the deli to pick up your lunchtime sandwich instead of ordering in.

Realistically, there will be days during your pregnancy when even neck rolls and leg lifts feel too much like hard work for your tired body to contemplate — and if you can't muster up the energy to budge on those days, that's no big deal. Just take advantage of the energetic days (and you will have them!) — keeping in mind that exercising regularly may actually bring you more of them. Really!

Here's to getting your get-up-and-go back!

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